How much can change in a year? Ask the developers at Bloober Team.
The launch of the 2024 remake of Silent Hill 2 significantly elevated the Polish developer’s status in the industry, transforming them from a capable, yet average, studio to a leading force in horror game development.
This recently earned professional reputation will be channeled towards pursuing a project close to one’s heart. A survival horror game, influenced by and based in Krakow, their hometown, as well as Nowa Huta, a Cold War-era model city, where we were given a tour and an early preview of the upcoming game title.
Cronos’s idea isn’t straightforward at all. Back in the 1980s, a massive upheaval called the “Change” occurred, leading to ordinary folks being metamorphosed into beings known as ‘Orphans’.
In simpler terms, you play the role of an explorer, a relentless emissary for a mysterious group, venturing through the remnants of Nowa Huta in search of connections to the past, with the mission to rescue individuals who were left behind after the cataclysmic event known as the Change.
Even though it’s challenging to fully understand a game’s story within a brief two-hour preview, Cronos maintains an air of mystery in its initial stages, revealing only fleeting glimpses of its broader narrative towards the end of my playtime. This subtle approach has certainly left me intrigued about what the complete game might offer.
In its world, the game truly excelled. As you delved into the initial regions of play, it became clear why Poland, and more particularly, Nowa Huta, was chosen as the game’s backdrop.
The world teems with personality, offering an immersive form of eco-narrative that makes even the most isolated settings seem vibrant and full of life.
Scattered across different areas are letters, posters, and notice boards – these being remnants of an old city, as you might expect – and by reading them, you gradually construct the narratives of diverse past inhabitants, thus unfolding a tale that sets the stage for your own story about future Krakow in the background.
Delving into these threads of backstory uncovers the palpable terror that seized Krakow as the Change unfolded, chronicling instances of sickness, fatalities, and enforced isolation.
The entire scenario unfolds amidst the city’s history from the Cold War era, where you can see motifs of individuality versus community running throughout the environmental narrative of the game.
Although Cronos’s narrative and universe captivated me, I must admit that the gameplay didn’t quite grab my interest in the same way.
As a devoted gamer, I gotta admit, Cronos ain’t necessarily got some revolutionary gameplay on its hands. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun and all, but it’s not exactly breaking new ground in the gaming world.
If you’ve dabbled in a few Resident Evil or Mass Effect games, Cronos’s dilapidated remains should feel comfortably familiar to you.
As a dedicated gamer, I’ll be navigating through sequential stages, eliminating peculiar Orphans along the way. I’ll also be on the hunt for resources to keep my stockpile replenished. Every now and then, I’ll encounter a brief puzzle that needs solving to unlock doors or establish new routes.
Cronos performs exceptionally well across the board; although it may seem ordinary when measured against standards, it delivers the same top-tier gameplay as any big-name horror game, earning accolades for its efforts.
What sets Cronos apart from others is an intriguing aspect of its Orphans’ AI.
The game’s promotional content carries a clear message, “Prevent Merging!” Experiencing the merging action in-game makes it abundantly clear why such a strong advice is emphasized.
Upon entering, I initially believed it was merely a novelty, but to my surprise, it turned out to be the most captivating aspect of Cronos’s combats. In fact, it infused certain parts with an unexpected level of tension and anxiety.
When an Orphan dies, others may absorb their strength, growing considerably more potent. To stop this from happening, you either need to expend your scarce energy to cremate their remains or eliminate the Orphans before they can unite.
In simpler terms, when I use the term “more powerful,” I’m emphasizing its significance. Early on in the game, with limited resources at hand, merging Orphans often spelled certain doom for them.
The design of the levels shows remarkable ingenuity. Occasionally, you may encounter scenarios where, for instance, slaying one Orphan in a room causes two others to appear from different directions.
In these game scenarios, a strategic thinking beyond typical resource management is necessary due to the increased complexity. You’ll find yourself having to make quick decisions and choose the optimal strategy on the fly.
The experience was beyond description; I had to live it myself to truly understand it. Initially, reading about merging beforehand made it seem straightforward. However, the actual encounter was like getting hit by a truck, inducing a palpable, not exactly fearful, but heart-racing anxiety.
Currently, the Bloober Team is basking in a surge of self-assurance. This confidence is well-earned following the triumph of their project, Silent Hill 2.
If we had the opportunity to fully stretch our creative abilities, it could seem straightforward to create something predictable – a generic survival horror game that merely continues the work of past masters.
Rather than being merely a replica, Cronos stands as an authentic entity. It bears a strong resemblance to the aesthetics and themes found in games such as Dead Space, Mass Effect, and Resident Evil.
Essentially, the narrative at its heart is entirely distinctive, a tale that Bloober has the distinct ability to convey. It’s a story deeply rooted in Poland, crafted by Polish creators, steeped in the nation’s history, culture, and politics, which has undeniably immersed me into Cronos’s world.
That, and the cliffhanger they ended the preview on. Rude.
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2025-08-07 20:05